Online malfunction left Roses audience in the dark

IT was the worst nightmare imaginable for tens of thousands of online Rose of Tralee viewers, a dramatic twist RTÉ’s soap writers could only dream of thinking up.

As the festival’s 2011 winner was announced, large sections of the worldwide audience tuned in to watch the action unfold.

Only, well, they didn’t.

Right on cue, the online live stream cut out as the festival reached its climax, leaving tens of thousands of foreign viewers facing the worst scenario possible: Nothing.

While devious minds may have entertained the possibility that TV3 officials quietly unplugged the system, an RTÉ spokesperson told the Irish Examiner the gremlin in the online coverage had — unfortunately — a far more sensible explanation.

“Due to an extension in broadcast time the live stream of the Rose of Tralee on RTÉ Player cut out in the last part of the show,” the spokesperson said.

“However, it was back up within approximately one minute.”

In an unusual statement that will have acted as affirmation for the contest’s detractors and confused those who saw the live stream replaced with, there’s no easy way to put this, a blank screen, she added: “It didn’t interfere with viewers’ ability to watch the end of the festival.”

The mini-crisis, which came after the competition’s chairman Anthony O’Gara almost walked off stage without handing over the winning envelope, was even more problematic considering the winner was Queensland rose Tara Talbot — whose own father was watching in Australia.

Considering the live stream malfunction, the 27-year-old Dublin-born niece of 1970s Irish beauty queen Cathy Crinigan, whose mother is from the Philippines, should perhaps not be surprised if the crowds at her welcome home celebration party are a bit on the sparse side.

Not that the issue was at the forefront of her mind in the immediate aftermath of the win.

“I’m going to take my shoes off for a start, I don’t think my feet will ever forgive me,” Tara told reporters asking how she planned to celebrate the victory.

“It’s been the most crazy, frantic experience I’ve ever had... I’m just extremely proud to be representing all the wonderful people who I’ve met.

“And Tralee, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

During her onstage appearance before the winner was announced, Tara also showed her cheeky side by getting in a subtle dig at presenter Dáithí Ó Sé. When asked to say a phrase in Filipino, she responded: “Gusto ko hake” (I like hake).

The new Rose of Tralee follows in the high-heeled footsteps of 2006’s Kathryn Feeney, the only other Queensland winner in the festival’s 53-year history.

She is also one of a growing number of foreign country rose representatives who were born in Ireland — a further sign of the return of emigration.

Tara is planning to move over to Ireland for at least part of her Rose of Tralee year, with time likely to be spent in the Kerry town and her “second home”, Dublin — where her 93-year-old grandfather still lives and, luckily, her Australian-based boyfriend is from.

However, when she re-locates, the red-hot favourite among gamblers throughout the festival may want to avoid any Paddy Power branches — the usually savvy bookmaker will have to pay out up to €50,000 due to her win.

Rose hip hop a hit with Hilton

FIDDY CENT says it hurt more than being “shot nine times”. Eazy-E is rolling (something) in his grave. And Vanilla Ice — well, to be honest he probably liked it.

But despite the horror in some quarters over Dublin rose Siobheal Nic Eochaidh’s on-stage hip hop Rose of Tralee dance routine, the apparently cringe-worthy moment has become a major online hit. Writing on his highly influential website, acid-tongued US blogger Perez Hilton said the performance by the brunette beauty was a work of genius. Well, sort of.

“What the hell is this. We have no idea but it’s totally making our day,” the celebrity stalker wrote, adding: “Instead of the typical Irish dancing we’re used to seeing, the Dublin rose busted out a mean hip hop routine.

“Or at least we think it’s supposed to be hip hop... Whatever it is, it makes us happy! Ch-ch-check it out.”

Among the dozens of responses on the www.perezhilton.com website were those from US, Canadian and Irish viewers.

“I thought by moving out of Ireland I would escape this kind of embarrassment,” wrote one, before another came to the sultry rose’s rescue: “Then again I would rather watch that holy mess of a dance than one of Micheal Flatley’s.”

The clip — which by last night had already been viewed by more than 31,000 people on YouTube — can be seen at the below link.

* http://exa.mn/dance

Tuning in

ALMOST one million people tuned in to see Queensland’s Tara Talbot crowned Rose of Tralee — a figure which, while down 131,000 on last year, is still one of the highest in a decade.

Despite the entire population’s claim to never watch the cheesy festival, the annual contest continues to have a hard-core fan base — a group that ranges from rugby star Ronan O’Gara to chart-topper Imelda May.

Tuesday night’s audience level peaked at 943,000 when Tara was crowned the winner, and hit 705,000 viewers before and 824,000 after the 9pm news break.

The second-half figure equates to a 54.3% share of Ireland’s overall TV audience during those hours, the highest in four years.

However, it is still down on the 916,300 who tuned in for the second half of last year’s final — a show that overall had 1.074 million viewers.

In keeping with previous years, the second night figures were significantly higher than 2011’s first live broadcast.

Monday night’s show had an average 37% audience share, with 440,000 (31%) and 601,000 (42%) tuning in before and after the news break.

This compares with a 35% and 46% share in 2010.